The Queen’s Garden

Oral Histories of the Piedmont Foodshed.

Overview

The Queen’s Garden: Oral Histories of the Piedmont Foodshed seeks to collect the stories of those who grow, cultivate, produce, and distribute fresh food in the greater Charlotte region.

A lot of changes have happened to our foodshed over the past half-century. Growing urbanization and an active farm-to-fork movement have created new demands, while encroaching sprawl and rising land costs have led to new innovations like agrotourism, urban farming, and growing microgreens. This oral history project explores both the rewards and challenges of those who currently and historically have participated in and helped to create the region’s foodshed. By documenting the oral histories of farmers, gardeners, ranchers, gleaners, and other distribution efforts, we hope to portray the sometimes unexpected and creative ways that local food production and distribution has occurred and changed over time.

List

Interviewees Subjects Organizations / Businesses Date Established Location
Abernathy, Jack Farm     Connelly Springs, NC
Barbee,Tommy Farm Barbee Farms ~1900 Concord, NC
Belk, Katherine “Peanut” Farm Wild Hope Farm 2017 Chester, SC
Brun, Kate Greenhouse agriculture Lucky Leaf Gardens 2010 Harrisburg, NC
Buch, Kim Food Distribution Niner Pantry at UNCC 2014 Charlotte, NC
Bush Carter, Lucy Food Distribution Friendship Trays 1976 Charlotte, NC
Byrd, Rebecca Community Garden Student Community Garden at UNCC 2014 Charlotte, NC
Carrigan, Doug Farm, agrotourism Carrigan Farm 1902 Mooresville, NC
Correll, David Farm Correll Farms LLC 1880 Cleveland, NC
Culver, Erin Farm Lil Urban Farm 2017 York, SC
Deneau, Carie Greenhouses, Farming, Healthy Eating Tega Hills Farm 1999 Fort Mill, SC
Dover, Elizabeth Anne Farm, wine The Farm at Dover Vineyards 2009 Concord, NC
Eagan, Shelley Proffit Livestock Proffitt Family Cattle Company 2008 Kings Mountain, NC
Eaves, Anson Feed Mill Bethel Feed & Farm 1957 Midland, NC
Edwards, Ronald Farm Springs Farms 1936 Fort Mill, SC
Ellis, Audra Livestock Ellis Farms 2012 Lincolnton, NC
Ferebee, James Livestock Ferebee Farm 2015 Rock Hill, SC
Fine, Janice Farm Seven Sisters’ Farm 2023 Denton, NC
Fletcher, Chris Farm Personal Farm 2008 Cabarrus County, NC
Ford, Nadine Community Garden Little Sugar Creek Community Garden 2009 Charlotte, NC
Foster, Amy Livestock Gilcrest Natural Farm 2007 Iron Station, NC
Furr, Curtis Farm Curtis Furr Farm ~1900 Albemarle, NC
Godman, Mendy; Hawes, Sue; April, Kim Food Distribution Feeding Charlotte (formally Food Connection) 2018 Charlotte, NC
Gonzalez, Mario     1999 Salisbury, NC
Hall, Lara Farm Hall Family Farm 2008 Charlotte, NC
Hall, Rickey Policy, activism, urban gardening West Boulevard Neighborhood Coalition ~2016 Charlotte, NC
Hendel, Emma Farm, Greenhouse agriculture, Healthy Eating, Organic Farming, Urban Farm Fair Share Farm, LLC 2014 Pfafftown, NC
Johnson, Chantel Homestead, livestock Off Grid in Color 2017 Salisbury, NC
Jzar, Cherie Farm Deep Roots CPS Farm 2019 Charlotte, NC
Littlejohn, Ernestine       Charlotte, NC
Matthews, Lisa Food Distribution The Bulb Gallery 2016 Charlotte, NC
McAllister, George Beekeeping Mecklenburg Beekeepers Association 2008 Charlotte, NC
McKenzie and Suydam Community Garden Avondale Presbyterian   Charlotte, NC
McLeod, T. Organic Farming McLeod Organics   Huntersville, NC
Miller, Justin Farm Cherry Hill Farms 2011 Mocksville, NC
Moore, Gene Farm Farmer Gene’s Farm Marshville, NC
Newman, Conner and Schoch, Kim Farm Hodges Family Farm 1905 Charlotte, NC
Newton, Aaron Farm Lomax Farm 2009 Concord, NC
Orders, Justin Farm Queen’s Orders Honey 2020 Huntersville, NC
Mace, Rita Farm   ~1826-1876 Connelly Springs, NC
Parker, Rickie     2004 Albemarle, NC
Ritchie, Craig and Eric Farm Charlotte Green 1991 Charlotte, NC
Robinson, Mark and Mindy Urban Farm, Greenhouses Tega Hills Farm 1999 Fort Mill, SC
Rowland, Joe Organic Farming Rowland Row Farm 2012 Gold Hill, NC
Shaw, Kim Urban Farm Small City Farm 2009 Charlotte, NC
Sherman, Lisa Greenhouses, Farming Tega Hills Farm 1999 Fort Mill, SC
Shull, Cissy Urban Farm Charlotte Green 1991 Charlotte, NC
Siers, Jean Gleaning Society of St. Andrew 1983 Charlotte, NC
Smith, Mike Livestock Big Oak Farm ~1820 Kannapolis, NC
Stevens, Jeff Livestock Muddy Springs Farm 2005 Iron Station, NC
Sumerel, Jerry and Tayna Beekeeping Honeysuckle Hill Bee Farm ~2011 Concord, NC
Taylor, Philip Farm     Connelly Springs, NC
Tempest, Brett Farm Gather Ye Honey 2020 Charlotte, NC
Thorstenson, Robb Organic Farming Wise Acres Organic Farm 2012 Indian Trail, NC
Turton, Tim Community Garden Mecklenburg County Community Gardens   Charlotte, NC
Watson, Matt Livestock Watson Farms 1969 Chester, SC
Williams, Ed Community Garden Myers Park Baptist Church 2013 Charlotte, NC
Wyatt, Zack Urban Farming, activism Carolina Farm Trust ~2015 Cornelius, NC
Yow, Eddie Livestock Yow Farm   Stanfield, NC

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